Medieval World: Sutton Hoo

Two lessons made up of two PowerPoints (each with 5 slides) and two Word Documents that examines what was buried at Sutton Hoo, whether the Saxons responsible were barbaric or civilised, whether the focus of the burial was Christian or pagan and who specifically was likely buried in Mound 1.

Activities include

Lesson 1

• Starter activity in which students work out what was buried at Sutton Hoo based on a photograph from the 1939 dig.
• Analysis of a source to identify the meaning of the term ‘barbaric’.
• Analysis of the objects found in Mound 1 to complete a table on whether the culture responsible were civilised or barbaric.
• Discussion, based on the objects, on what type of person was buried in Mound 1 at Sutton Hoo.

Lesson 2

• Starter activity in which students analyse an image of a pagan burial to consider differences with modern burial practices.
• Reading and comprehension exercise to understand the meaning of the term pagan.
• Analysis of the objects found in Mound 1 to determine whether the culture responsible were pagans or Christians.
• Discussion of why objects from both faiths were found in Mound 1.
• Analysis of the objects found in Mound 1 in conjunction with a timeline to identify who was most likely buried at Sutton Hoo.

Designed for teaching an academically able Key Stage 3 class covering aspects of the Medieval World.
Lesson Length: Two 1hr lessons depending on pace.

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